Caribbean Compass Yachting Magazine - October 2021

OCTOBER 2021 CARIBBEAN COMPASS PAGE 26
THE CARIBBEAN SKY: FREE SHOW NIGHTLY!
The Sky from Mid-October to Mid-November
by Jim Ulik
“Proposition 13. That tis probable there may be inhubitants (inhabitants) in this other
World, but of what kinde they are is uncertaine (uncertain).”
— From The Discovery of a World in the Moone, or, A discourse tending to prove,
that ‘tis probable there may be another habitable world in that planet, by Bishop
John Wilkins (1638)
In addition to his duties as a bishop John Wilkins was a scientist and
mathematician. His observations of the Moon led him to propose that it was another
world with mountains, valleys and plains. In his book he put forth a theory that the
Moon’s dark areas were seas and the brighter areas were landmasses.
Those ideas were slightly more tolerated in the 17th century than
in the fifth century BC. Then people were arrested and exiled for
claiming the Moon was a rocky body, not a god.
“Since it must needes be a great impediment unto the growth of
sciences, for men still so to plod on upon beaten principles, as to be
afraid of entertaining any thing that may seeme to contradict them.
An unwillingnesse to take such things into examination, is one of
those errours of learning in these times…” Wilkins wrote.
Filippo Morghen, draftsman and engraver, was influenced by the
scientific progress of the previous century. He created a number of
etchings relating to Bishop John Wilkins’ and astronomer Philippe
de La Hire’s voyage to the Moon. Some drawings depict houses and
fishing boats on the Moon as pumpkins.
Anyway, the Moon and pumpkins are an appropriate association
for Halloween on October 31st.
Saturday, October 16th
Venus can be seen low in the western sky after sunset. On October
9th Venus made its close approach to the Moon and entered the
constellation Scorpius. Since that day Venus was gradually closing in
on the red supergiant star Antares. Tonight Venus will be positioned
less than one and one half degrees northeast of Antares. The Parker
Solar Probe will also be making its fifth pass of Venus as it zips back
towards the Sun at over 692,000 km/h (430,000 mph).
Monday, October 18th
Earth is now passing through the debris field of a comet marking
the peak of the Epsilon Geminids meteor shower. The best opportunity
to spot any of these fast-traveling meteors will be after midnight.
Watch for Orion to rise then wait until Gemini is high above the
horizon. The meteors will emanate out of Gemini from October 14th
to October 27th.
Wednesday, October 20th
The Moon is located on the opposite side of the Earth from the Sun.
The Full Moon actually occurs around 1100 hours but it will appear
full and bright over the next two nights.
Thursday, October 21st
The Orionid meteor shower will be active from October 2nd through
November 7th. The shower will produce its peak rate of meteors tonight. There could
be a peak volume of around 25 meteors per hour. The best viewing will be after
midnight. The meteors are produced by dust grains left behind by comet Halley,
which has been known and observed since at least 240 BCE.
Sunday, October 24th
In the predawn skies the Leonis Minorids meteor shower may materialize. The
shower is forecast to peak this morning with shooting stars radiating out of the eastnortheast
from the constellation Leo Minor. Leonis Minorids are active from October
19th to October 27th.
Monday, October 25th
For a fleeting moment you may see a bright object above the eastern horizon before
sunrise. Mercury reaches greatest western elongation of 18 degrees from the Sun. It
will be visible for less than one half hour.
Thursday, October 28th
The Moon will rise before midnight on October 27th. The Moon has left Gemini and
is now positioned between Pollux (in Gemini) and the Beehive Cluster (in Cancer).
This is a good time to see the surface relief of the mountain ranges and craters along
the terminator line during the Moon’s last or third quarter phase.
Friday, October 29th
Look for Venus in the western sky after sunset. The blazing hot planet reaches
greatest eastern elongation or separation from the Sun. Trailing about 45 degrees
A Pumpkin used as a Fishing Boat. From “Life on the Moon in 1768:
Ten Fantasy Engravings of the 18th Century” by Filippo Morghen (1766-67)
behind Venus is Saturn with Jupiter close behind. From a dark location you will see
that Venus is situated along the Milky Way.
Earth is still in the midst of being bombarded by the debris left behind by comet
1P/Halley. Edmund Halley calculated the orbits of several comets and proposed that
the bright comet seen in 1682 was the same object previously recorded in 1531 and
1607. After the comet returned in 1758 the French astronomer Nicolas-Louis de
Lacaille named the comet in Halley’s honor. Conflicting dates record Halley’s
birthday depending upon which calendar (Gregorian or Julian) was used in 1656
London. Edmund Halley (1656 -1742) was either born on October 29th or November
8th. It is his 365th birthday.
—Continued on next page
Bocas Marina
Safe Haven in Paradise
“The Undiscovered Caribbean”
Bocas Del Toro, Panama
Full Service Marina • Calypso Cantina
www.bocasmarina.com • bocasyachtclub@yahoo.com
Haul Out Yard • 60-Ton Travelift
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9°20’.05”N, 82°14’.45”W